Computer Science: An Overview: Global Edition (12th Edition)

Published by Pearson Higher Education
ISBN 10: 1292061162
ISBN 13: 978-1-29206-116-0

Chapter 4 - Networking and the Internet - Chapter Review Problems - Page 212: 36

Answer

The difference lies in the security measures employed during communication. The use of HTTPS provides a higher level of security by encrypting the data exchanged between your browser and the server, thus offering better protection against eavesdropping and tampering

Work Step by Step

When you request a browser to "find the document" at a particular URL, the primary difference between specifying "http://" and "https://" lies in the security protocol used for communication. If you request the document using "http://stargazer.universe.org," the browser will attempt to establish a connection using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) without encryption. This means the data exchanged between your browser and the server may not be encrypted, making it potentially vulnerable to interception or tampering by third parties. However, if the website supports HTTP, the browser will still be able to retrieve and display the document. On the other hand, if you specify "https://stargazer.universe.org," the browser will use HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), which encrypts the data exchanged between your browser and the server. This encryption ensures the confidentiality and integrity of the communication, making it significantly more secure compared to HTTP.
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